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31 March 2021
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Story Xolisa Mnukwa
The University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus conducted its first digital Campus Student Representative Council (CSCR) elections for the 2020/2021 SRC term. Elections for the 12 ex officio portfolios were conducted from 1 to 4 December 2020, while the elections for the 7 elective portfolios were conducted from 23 to 26 March 2021.
Of the 22 941
eligible voters for the elective portfolios, 8 044 cast their votes, which accounts for 35% of the voter’s roll. The 2021 voter turnout is an increase of 9,53% compared to the 2019 elections that were conducted manually. The CSRC incumbents mentioned below were officially inaugurated on 29 March 2021 and an official handover of the outgoing to the incoming incumbents was facilitated by the Student Governance Office.
The results below depict the final outcome of the CSRC elective portfolios. Elections were concluded at 21:00 on 26 March 2021. Watch video for the official inauguration.
Position | Candidate | Votes |
PRESIDENT | Jerry Thoka | 5 747 (74,6%) |
Kamohelo Seleke | 1 960 (25.4%) |
DEPUTY PRESIDENT | Loretta Mosito | 5 563 (72,4%) |
Esona Yapi | 2 116 (27,6%) |
SECRETARY | Ayanda Dlova | 5 988 (78,3%) |
Simphiwe Zonke | 1 660 (21,7%) |
TREASURER | Orefile Sefika | 5 425 (70,7%) |
Thandiwe Kula | 2 246 (29,3%) |
POLICY AND TRANSFORMATION | Vusumzi Gqalane | 4 988 (63,8%) |
Thabo Duma | 1 649 (21,1%) |
Nompumelelo Khoza | 1 178 (15,1%) |
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS | Tshiamo Sebolai | 4 681 (60,4%) |
Fhumulani Sididzha | 1 707 (22,0%) |
Ofentse Ntsane | 1 365 (17,6%) |
COMMUTER STUDENTS | Dimpho Mokhoantle | 4 469 (58,1%) |
Marumo Rakwata | 1 643 (21,4%) |
Lusanda Feleza | 1 582 (20,6%) |
The results below depict the outcome of the ex officio elections that took place from 1 to 4 December 2020:
Position | Candidate |
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ASSOCIATIONS STUDENT COUNCIL | Michael Mnguni |
STUDENT ORGANISATIONS COUNCIL | Tebogo Sako |
ACADEMIC STUDENT COUNCIL | Katlego Booysen |
DAY RESIDENCE COUNCIL | Sibongiseni Mncela |
CAMPUS RESIDENCE COUNCIL | Mpho Maubane |
POSTGRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL | Nico Janse van Rensburg |
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COUNCIL | Rufaro Chakanyuka |
STUDENT MEDIA AND DIALOGUE COUNCIL | Wandile Manqele |
UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL | Katlego Sekele |
CIVIC AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COUNCIL | Gert Terblanche |
ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL | Katleho Khaola |
SPORTS COUNCIL | Bongumusa Khumalo |
Cornell academic focuses on international trade in inaugural lecture at the UFS
2013-11-12
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Prof Muna Ndulo Photo: Stephen Collett 12 November 2013 |
Prof Muna Ndulo, Professor at the Cornell Law School, delivered his inaugural lecture as Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of the Free State (UFS). The topic of his lecture was: Facilitating regional and world trade through international trade.
With this topic, Prof Ndulo said that trade is a recognised contributor to the Growth Domestic Product of countries and its role can be used to reduce global poverty and inequality. “Although Africa’s GDP is 5-6% on average, with a positive increase in direct foreign investments, its meaningful participation in world trade has been decimal,” he said.
Trade between African countries is 12%, which is the lowest in the world. This is in comparison to intercontinental trade in European states (72%), North America (48%), Asia (52%) and 26% in Latin America. The EU and USA are Africa’s key export markets. High transport costs, import substitution, intra-regional transactions, conflict of rules and bills of exchange remain as challenges. There are also no common standards with regards to the development of manpower as an important factor in production.
Prof Ndulo suggested solutions which Africa can use to achieve harmonisation. This includes the introduction of normative rules designed in a framework of a treaty. A modern law approach could be used to develop legislation and ensure uniformity; and lastly, the formulation of commercial customs and practice. “Harmonisation demands a high level of expertise and quality research,” said Prof Ndulo.
He added: “When legislation is developed, it must resemble the needs of our trade laws in order to maximise benefits.”
He concluded that, for harmonisation to be achieved, the political environment must play a major role in regional and world trade.
Prof Elizabeth Snyman-Van Deventer, Head of the Department of Mercantile Law, made sincere closing remarks on how much we as a continent have become an enemy of our own self by not having trade relationships among ourselves as Africans. Prof Snyman urged those in the legal fraternity to be part of the harmonisation of trade laws and eliminate the barriers by improving legislation.